Commissioner Piebalgs underlines in Baku the
strategic role of Azerbaijan for the realisation of the Southern Gas
Corridor

Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs met today in
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, with the Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, as well
as Minister of Energy and Industry Natig Aliyev, and Minister of Foreign
Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov. During his meetings, the Commissioner underlined that
Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the EU and reaffirmed the EU’s
commitment to close and strengthened EU-Azerbaijani relations and to enhancing
its energy partnership. Ahead of the soon to be adopted second Strategic Energy
Review, Commissioner Piebalgs discussed the establishment of a Southern Gas
Corridor to bring energy resources to Europe as one of the EU's highest energy
security priorities.

"Recent events in the Caucasus have shown once again that this is a critical
time for energy issues in the region and that EU-Azerbaijan energy cooperation
should be strengthened now more than ever", said Commissioner Piebalgs.

Against this background, and ahead of the adoption of the Strategic Energy
Review, Commissioner Piebalgs’ underlined that Azerbaijan is an important
strategic partner of the EU and energy is a core area of our relations. He
pointed to the concrete success achieved with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil
pipeline and the development of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline as the
inspiration for meeting today’s challenges.

It was noted during the meetings that the EU would step up its efforts to
establish a Southern Gas Corridor which will open up new possibilities for gas
exports from the Caspian region to Europe. The need for increased activities in
support of exploration and development of Caspian resources were also
highlighted, as well as the fact that the EU and Azerbaijan share a common
energy agenda.

The EU has strengthened its energy ties with Azerbaijan via a Memorandum of
Understanding in the field of Energy. Moreover, with the adoption of the
European Neighbourhood Action Plan, EU-Azerbaijan cooperation goes beyond
existing relationships to offer a deeper political relationship and economic
integration. The EU will pursue its efforts towards increased energy security
and diversification, along with full support to stability and progress in the
region as a whole.